| Road Demon | |
| Director: | Otto Brower |
| Starring: | Henry Arthur Joan Valerie Henry Armetta |
| Distributor: | 20th Century-Fox |
| Runtime: | 65 minutes |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
Road Demon is a 1938 American crime drama film directed by Otto Brower and starring Henry Arthur, Joan Valerie, and Henry Armetta.[1] Footage from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was included along with driver accidents. It is the second release in the Sports Series of films.
After Tony Gambini and his family acquire a wrecked car, they fix it to use as a race car with Ted Rogers as the driver. Rogers competes against Skid, who was partially responsible for the death of Rogers' father at a race. During the last race, Rogers wins after Skid crashes into a wall after remembering Rogers' father.
The film is the second release in the Sports Series produced by 20th Century-Fox. The Memorial Day Speedway Classic at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was filmed for scenes. Footage of well-known accidents that occurred at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was used in the film.[2] A model of the track and nearby buildings were built in 20th Century-Fox's lot with the supervision of millionaire racer Joe Thorne. Associate producer Jerry Hoffman obtained four of Thorne's cars that were previously used in a classic race and worth $70,000. Hoffman received the equipment to work on the motors, a racing shell, and a chassis. Garages used at the 1938 Memorial Day races were reproduced for the film.[3]
The film stars the fictional Gambini Family who first appeared in the first Sports Series film Speed to Burn.[3] Speed Demon is the first starring role of Joan Valerie. The film was released with Five of a Kind as a double feature.[4]
Boxoffice Pro wrote that the film had "the best race sequences ever captured on film."[2] Dorothy Masters of Daily News praised the newcomer actor Henry Arthur and said that "Henry Armetta, who plays the role of Papa Gambini for a second time, provides the film with most of its fun." Masters gave the film 2 stars.[5] The Muncie Evening Press wrote, "Speed Demon has some exciting race sequences filmed at the Indianapolis track, showing America's fastest drivers, in action."[6]